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SCMP Reporter

Fast-growing Asian mobile-network operators could lead future developments in Java-based programs for Internet-ready wireless services.

Nicolas Lorain, Sun Microsys tems senior product manager for wireless Java technologies, said Asia-Pacific developers were showing strong support for new guidelines on using the Java programming language for advanced wireless applications.

An alliance led by Sun, called the Java Technology for the Wireless Industry (JTWI) Expert Group, last month released its 'JSR-185 road map', which aims to standardise the way network operators, wireless-device makers and software developers create Java-enabled mobile phones and content.

'The Asian market has already taken the lead in the Java wireless data services market,' Mr Lorain said.

'The increasing weight of the Asian market in terms of wireless subscribers will certainly influence future versions of the JTWI specification closely, by mapping the requirements from key players in this region.'

He cited SmarTone, Hutchison Telecom, Hongkong Telecom CSL, China Unicom and China Mobile as large network operators that ran commercial Java-based applications in Greater China.

Other prominent Java-based operators in Asia included NTT DoCoMo, J-Phone and KDDI in Japan, M1 and SingTel in Singapore, and LG Telecom in South Korea.

Java competes directly against Qualcomm's Brew (Binary Runtime Environment for Wireless) platform in enabling operators, device manufacturers and software developers to create next-generation wireless applications.

Originally developed by Sun for computer networks, Java has been adopted in the wireless arena to transform text-based, static applications into easy-to-use, graphical and interactive services on high-speed mobile phone networks.

The technology allows consumers to download ring tones, games, audio files, graphics and pictures from their carrier's network, and enterprises to run customised business applications.

Java's portability, which enables developers to churn out programs that can run on any hardware system, has been a key selling point for Sun and its Java 2, Micro Edition (J2ME) developer platform.

J2ME was developed for small devices such as smart cards, pagers, mobile phones, and set-top boxes. In Hong Kong, Sun counts more than 300 J2ME developers.

'We expect to see JTWI translated into real products within the next nine to 12 months,' Mr Lorain said.

'The majority of all new Java-enabled handset models introduced between this summer and December next year will be JTWI-compliant.'

Sun estimates that more than 20 mobile-network operators have deployed more than 50 million Java-based handsets worldwide.

More than 80 models have been announced or shipped by at least 15 device manufacturers to date.

Citing figures from British research firm ARC Group, Mr Lorain said sales of Java-enabled handsets this year would reach 285 million units, or 58 per cent of total mobile-phone sales worldwide.

That number is estimated to reach 465 million units next year, or 83 per cent of total mobile-handset sales, and hit 100 per cent, or more than 870 million units, in 2008.

Members of the JTWI group so far include Nokia, Sony Ericsson, Samsung, Motorola, Matsushita, Siemens, Research in Motion, Vodafone, NTT DoCoMo, Sprint, T-Mobil, Telefonica Moviles Espana, Sprint, Orange PCS, Symbian, Applix Corp, and 4thPass.

'This means that handset manufacturers controlling over 80 per cent of the worldwide market for mobile phones, as well as the leading wireless operators and application developers in the world, are backing JTWI,' Mr Lorain said.

About 20 other firms, including Intel, IBM, Panasonic, and PalmSource, are involved as 'observers' in the JTWI.

Mr Lorain said a number of Java developers in Greater China have shown 'immense interest' in more advanced J2ME development.

To grow this developer community, Sun has released both traditional and simplified Chinese versions of its J2ME wireless toolkit. A JTWI-compliant edition of those toolkits will be available in the next few months.

Mr Lorain said the JTWI specification would try to define 'a number of functional requirements that are acceptable in all geographical areas', guaranteeing a high consistency in wireless Java systems development across all markets worldwide.



Asia in front seat for Java development